Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

Clearly, the claims that the minister influenced a recruitment process within the Australian Border Force are spurious. The procedures undertaken in the matter raised in the media were a normal Public Service recruitment process managed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. I understand that the procedures involved an external recruitment agency and a selection panel process to short-list the best available candidates. I'm also advised neither the minister nor his office had any involvement. Even the source of these claims, the former Border Force Commissioner, denies involvement in the interview, short-listing or selection process. That is my advice from the minister.